Cable-driving mechanism.



H. B. BROCKENBROUGH. CABLE DRWING MECHANKSNI. APPLlcATloN man1uNE\2.1916.

NJN

H. B. BROGKENBROUGH. CABLE DRIVING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 1UNE\2.1916.

lllllll l! H. B. BROCKENBROUGH. CABLE DRIVING MECHANISM. APPLICATloNHLEn1uNE12.191e.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Mar. 26, 1918.

H. B. BROCKENBROUGH. CABLE DRIVING NIECHANISM. APPLICATIONF\LED1UNE\2.19|G.

Patented. Mar. 2G, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HUG-H B. BROCKENBROUG'H, 0F FORT DODGE, IOWA.

CABLE-DRIVING MECI-IAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26,1918.

Application led .Tune 12, 1916. Serial No. 103,195.

To all whom t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, HUGH B. BnocKEN- kronen, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and

a resident of Fort Dodge, inthe county of Webster land State of lowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in yCable-DrivingMechanism, of which the following isa speciiication.

My linvention relates to cable driving mechanism for driving thepropulsion cable in tramway systems.

The general purpose of my invention is to produce drive mechanismparticularly adaptable for driving the'car propulsion .cable in tramwaysystems where the cars 1travel repeatedly around a closed track circuitand where the cars are permanently connected with -the kpropulsioncable. For example in aerial tramways cars travel repeatedly around aclosed aerial track circuit between loading and unloading stations landeach car is permanently connected with .the cable so that these carconnections with the cab-le must pass through the cable drive mechanism.

-,On :the accompanying drawings l have shown .an improved drivingmechanism which is :particularly adaptable for driving the propulsionAcable of aerial tramway systems. In these drawings Figure 1 is a planview,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view from plane 2 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is va sectional view on plane 3 3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on `plane 4-4, Fig. 1, showing thecable gripping mechanism in gripping position,

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the gripping mechanism opened,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on plane 7 7, Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on vplane 8 8, Fig. 4.

The supporting structure `for the drive mechanism comprises two sidebeams 10 and 11 mounted'on legs 1Q and 13.l Journaled at the front andrear kends of the side beams are the transverse shafts 14 and 15. On theshaft 14 sprocket wheels 16 and 17 are secured `inside of and adjacentthe side Vbeams and on the-shaft 15 aresimilarly mounted the sprocketwheels 18 yand 19. The Wheels 16 and 18 receive the chain belt 20 andthewheels 17 and 19 receive `the chain belt V2l. At its outer end shaft 15carries a drive gear 22 with which meshes the drive pinion on lshaft 24,a belt pulley 25 being also secured to this shaft. Upon rotation of theAbelt pulley the sprocket wheels and chain belts will be driven. To keepthe chain belts tight slidable bearings 26 and 27 are provided for theshaft 14 from which threaded stems 28 extend through lugs 29 and areprovided with locking nuts 30.

Bridging between the chain belts and secured thereto are the cableclamping units U. Each of these units comprises a rec tangular frame 31secured-at its ends to the chain belts. As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and5, the sides of chain link members have laterally extending ears y32which are secured against the under side of the unit frame as by means`of bolts 33. Near one endof each unit is a stationary jaw member 34which extends outwardly, and cooperating with each stationary jaw memberis a movable jaw member 35. As shown, the frame l31 has thelongitudinally Yextending opening 36 therethrough in one end jof whichthe .movable jaw 35 is located. Asclearlyshown in Fig. 8 the base of theYmovable jaw has lateral extensions 37 for engaging with the top of theframe 31 and a .cross plate 38 secured to the under side of the baseengages at its ends with the under side of the frame, the jaw being thuslocked against transverse movement `on lthe frame but being free toshift longitudinally toward and away from the stationary jaw member 34.At Asubstantially the middle of each frame 31 opposite vertical guidegrooves 39 `and 40 are provided for vertically guiding the limbs of aU-frame 41. Connecting the frame limbsat their upper ends is a pin 42from which ka link 43 is suspended. This .link supports the inner endsof toggle members 44 and 45. The outer en'd of toggle member 44 ispivoted on the shaft 46 supported in ears 47 extending upwardly on theframe 311. The inner end of the member 44 is bifur cated and extendsinto the U-frame 41 and receives a pivot pin 48. The bifurcated arms 49and 50 extend vertically upwardly and support pin 51 to which the lowerend of link 43 is Vpivoted.

The toggle member 45 comprises .an inner rod part 52 and an outer sleevepart v53 into which the rod telescopes, a pin154 supported on the rodextending through the longitudinal slot 55 in the sleeve part to lockthe parts against separation. The inner end 56 0f the rod part receivesthe pin 48 so that the two toggle members are pivoted together at theirinner ends and there suspended by Ythe link 43 in frame 4l. The outerend of the sleeve part 53 has the head 57 whichV receives pivot pin 5Son the movable jaw 35 andv abutting against the head and against awasher 59 on the rod 52 is a compression spring 60 which encircles therod and sleeve and tends to separate these parts and to Ashift themovable jaw toward the stationary jaw 34:. A pin 6l secured in dependingears 62 on frame 4l suspends a link 63 which `is pivoted at its lowerend to the cam lever 64twhose front end ,pivots a cani roller 65 andwhich at its rear end is pivot-ed on pin 66 supported in the lugs 67extending downwardly from the frame 31. As the cam roller shiftsvertically the frame 4:1 is raised and lowered and the jaws 3l and 35closed and opened by the toggle members.

In practice the drive mechanism is spaced below the cable to be drivenand when the clamping units are at the top of the chain belts they willreceive the cable and will be l locked in closed clamping engagementwith the cable, that is, each unit during each rotation of the beltswill be in clamping engagement for a period to assist in propelling thecable. To more definitely fix the path of the units guide rails 68 and69 are supported over the side beams 26 and 27 on brackets 70 and 71,the. ends of the unit frames 3l passing through the guide slots 72 and73 in the rails.-Y Likewise, guide rails 74 and 75 are suspended fromthe side beams by the hangers 76 and 77 and have the grooves 7 8 and 79in which the ends of the clamping unit frames engage during theirtravelbelow the belts.

To control the opening and closure of the lclamping jaws of theclampingl units a cam rail 80 is-supported on cross bars 81 and 82supported on the side beams 26 and 27, the rail being horizontal anddisposed below and in the path of the cani wheels 65 which trail afterthe clamping units in their travel with the belts. VThe height of therail is such that when engaged by the wheels the clamping jaws will beheld in closed position. The front end 83-of the-rail is curveddownwardly to'form a gradual approach incline for the cam wheels to thetop of the rail.

The rear end of the cam track has the de! pressed vsection 84: which'permits `dropping of thecam vrollers and levers just before the clampingunits start to swing around with the adjacent sprocket wheels. Suchdownf ward swing of the cam rollers and levers away from the unit framescauses the toggle `mechanism to be actuatedto open the jaws so that thecable is released. After the units reach the under side of the sprocketwheels and become inverted the cam levers will swing in the oppositedirection, that is, they will tend to shift the toggle mechanism toclose the jaws, and such closed position is maintained until the unitshave swung around the front sprocket wheels and have almost reached thetops of these wheels. lVhen the mechanism is rapidly driven centrifugalforce will tend to swing the cam levers outwardly as the units travelaround Ythe front sprocket wheels. `Provision Vis'made to checkmate suchcentrifugal action and to positively effect reopening of the jaws intime to receive the cable before the cam rollers coperate with the camrail to close the jaws. As clearly shown iii-Figs. 1, 2 and 3, guiderails 85 and 86 are supported in front of the track approach 8,3 onbrackets 87 and 88 extending forwardly from the approach, andltheseguide rails are spaced to permit travel between them of'the'cam leversand wheels, and the pivotpins 89 ofthe cam wheels are extended laterallyto engage with the rails. As best shown in Fig. 2, the lower ends of theguide rails project downwardly sufficiently to receive the cam Vwheelpivot pins before the cam levers start to swing around with thesprocket'wheels. The engagement of the pins with the rails will ex-l ertconsiderable leverage on the toggle mechanism and as the pins travelalong the rails the jaws will be positively opened and they will be heldfully open to receive the cable before they are closed when the camrollersv engage with the horizontal cam rail 80. The upper ends of theguide rails are preferably parallel with the approach 83 and spacedtherefrom so that Ythe rails will hold the wheels to the approach untilthe top of the cam rail is reached. rlhe guide rails entirely checkmatecentrifugal action and no matter how fast the mechanism is operated theclamping jaws will always be positively fully opened to fully receivethe cable before they Y are closed.

The drive mechanism described is particularly useful where cars arepermanently .secured to the propulsion 'cable and Vwhere such carstravel repeatedly 'around a closed track circuit, as for example in anaerial tramway system where loading and unload- Y The permanentoperation shown and described, as changes and modifications are no doubtpossible which would still come within thescope of the invention. Iclaim as follows:

l. In cable driving mechanism, thecombination of a supporting frame, apair of sprocket wheels at each end of said frame, parallel endlessbelts received by said sprocket wheels, means for driving the sprocketwheels and the belts thereon, an endless row of clamping units securedcrosswise on said belts to travel therewith, cable clamping mechanism oneach unit, means at one end of said belts for successively opening theclamping units to receive a cable, and means for successively closingthe clamping units to clamp the received belt and for retainingsuccessive groups of said clamping units in clamping engagement withsaid cable.

2. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a supporting frame, apair of sprocket wheels at each end of said frame, parallel beltsengaging said sprocket wheels, means for driving said sprocket wheelsand belts, an endless row of clamping units secured crosswise on saidbelts to travel therewith, clamping jaws on each unit, actuatingmechanism on each unit for said jaws, cam mechanism connected with eachactuating mechanism, a cam rail between said belts of suiiicient lengthto cooperate with a number of said cam mechanisms to effect closure ofthe clamping jaws, and means for coperating with said cam mechanisms tosuccessively open the jaws before coperation of the cam mechanisms withthe cam rail.

3. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a continuous row ofclamping units, means for continuo-usly propelling said units through axed closed path, clamping jaws on each unit, toggle mechanism on eachunit for actuating saidv jaws, cani lever mechanism for each togglemechanism, a cam rail parallel with a section of said path to cooperatewith the cam lever mechanism to eifect closure of successive jaws and tomaintain closure of a plurality of jaws, and means for opening the jawsbefore coperation of the cam mechanisms with said rails.

4. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of front and Irearsprocket wheels, a pair of belts mounted on said wheels to travel inparallel closed paths, means for driving said sprocket wheels, anendless row of cable clamping units secured crosswise on said belts totravel. therewith through said fixed paths, cableclamping jaws on eachunit, toggle mechanism on each unit for actuating said jaws, levermechanism associated with each toggle mechanism and terminating in a camroller, a cam rail in position to cooperate with successive units toengage the cam roller to actuate the lever mechanism and effectoperation of the corresponding toggle mechanism to close the jaws, meansfor cooperating with successive cam rollers to effect operation of thelever mechanism and .toggle mechanism of successive units to open theclamping jaws before cooperation of the clamping members with the camrail, and means for opening the jaws after cooperation of the cammechanisms with said rail.

In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a 'series of cableclamping units, means for repeatedly propelling said units through afixed path, a stationary jaw member on each unit and a movable jawmember thereon, toggle mechanism on each unit connected with the movablejaw member, and a rail adjacent said path for coperating with the togglemechanism of the successive units to maintain closure of the jaw membersduring travel of the unit-s through part of said path.

6. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a series of clampingunits, means for repeatedly propelling said units through a fixed path,jaws on each unit, a frame shiftable transversely on each unit, togglelevers connected with said frame and jaws, means on each unit tending tohold said toggle levers in position to open said jaws, and a railadjacent the path of said units for cooperating with the toggle leversto shift them to close the jaws during travel of the units through partof said path.

7. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a series of clampingunits, means for repeatedly propelling said units through a fixed path,clamping jaws on each unit, a frame reciprocable transversely o n eachunit, toggle levers on each unit connected with the frame and jawsthereon, cam levers eX- tending from said frame, and a cam rail adjacentthe path of travel of said units for cooperating with said cam levers toshift the toggle levers to close the jaws of the units as they travelthrough part of said path.

8z In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a series of clampingunits, means for repeatedly propelling said units through a fixed path,a stationary jaw member on each unit and a movable jaw member alsothereon, two toggle levers on each unit having their inner endsconnected together, the outer end of one of said levers being connectedwith the unit and the outer end of the other lever being connected withthe movable jaw member, mechanism on each unit transversely slidablethereon and connected with the inner ends of said toggle levers, and acam rail adjacent the path of travel of said units for coperating withsaid mechanism to swing said toggle levers to effect closure of the jawsof the units as they travel through part of said path. I

9. In cable driving mechanism, the combination of a series of clampingunits, means for repeatedly propelling said units through a fixed path,a stationary jaw member on each unit and a movable jaw member alsothereon, two toggle levers on each unit pivoted together at their innerends, the outer end oit' one of saidleversbeing pivoted to the unit andthe outer end of the other lever being pivoted to the movable jawmember, a frame shiftable transversely on each unit, a suspensionlinkfconneoted With each frame Vand the innerends of theto-ggle members,

' travel of said units` for Vooperating with said frames to eEect shiftthereof 4and' movement of the toggle levers to bring and hold the jawmembers together during travel of the units through part of said path.

Y. In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe 20 my name this 5 dayY ofJune, A. D., 1916.

HUGH B. BROCKENBROUGH.

Copies. of'this patent may be 'obtained for ve'cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, i Washington, D. C.

